5 Massachusetts stories to watch in 2017

As we turn the page on 2016, it’s time to ask: What does the new year have in store for the Bay State? Here are five Massachusetts stories to watch unfold in 2017.

1. How will Massachusetts get along with the Trump administration? President-elect Donald Trump had little backing from top-level elected officials in the Bay State. He frequently feuded publicly with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The state’s Republican governor, Charlie Baker, refused to endorse Trump and said he didn’t cast a vote for president on Election Day. What will that mean once Trump is sworn in? Massachusetts got more than $13 billion in federal funds last fiscal year, roughly a third of which was in the form of competitive grants the state won. Will federal grant funds for Massachusetts dry up under Trump, who wrote about the joy of taking revenge in his 2007 book?

2. Will the commercial marijuana industry get off the ground? Following passage of a ballot question on Election Day, marijuana became legal for recreational use effective Dec. 15. While it’s now legal for Massachusetts adults to possess and grow limited amounts of the drug, State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and state lawmakers are expected to spend much of 2017 setting up the regulatory framework for a pot retail industry. The first licensed pot shops are expected to open in 2018, but will delays, which plagued the rollout of the state’s medical marijuana program, set the schedule back? Lawmakers will likely consider changes to the new law, including hiking the marijuana tax rate or raising the legal pot-smoking age.

3. How will Massachusetts get its budget on track? In early 2017, Baker is expected to release his spending plan for fiscal 2018, which begins July 1, 2017. Fiscal 2017 has been challenging, as tax revenues have fallen short of projections. Baker on Dec. 6 announced nearly $98 million in midyear budget cuts. Will Baker and state lawmakers find enough common ground in budget sessions to avoid a repeat next year? Will tax revenues rebound in the new year?

4. Although the presidential election is firmly in the past, focus will turn to municipal elections in 2017. There are 34 cities, including Boston, that have mayoral posts and city council seats on the local ballot in November 2017. By fall of 2017, the field of candidates running for governor in 2018 will also likely begin to take shape. Newton Mayor Setti Warren recently announced he won’t seek another term as mayor, sparking speculation that he may be considering a run against Baker.

5. Will the law keep pace with new technologies and innovations? Boston is launching a yearlong program to test autonomous, self-driving cars and is expected to develop policy recommendations. Meanwhile, Massachusetts passed a law in August to regulate ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Some lawmakers have said they anticipate early 2017 will see a legislative debate on regulations for Airbnb, a web-based app that lets people rent their homes on a short-term basis. Lodging rented through such services is not currently subject to the same standards and regulations as traditional hotels and motels.